Real-time passenger bus tracking is currently in a technical pilot phase, with tests underway in the City of Kigali to assess its feasibility, according to Ecofleet Solutions, the state-owned transport company.

Part of the reforms being implemented to improve public transport in the city, the GPS system is expected to help commuters track bus locations and plan more effectively when to head to bus stops.

The pilot is underway on the Kacyiru and Rwandex routes, where two display devices have been installed at bus stops. According to Ecofleet Chief Executive Officer Aubin Rukera, the system is still at a technical testing stage, with the current installations serving as trial displays.

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"These are test displays meant to assess how the system works technically, not operational deployments,” Rukera told The New Times on Monday, April 27.

"The outcome of this phase will determine the next steps. If the results prove viable, the first phase of rollout could begin by June. We can, for example, start with around 200 bus stops.”

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He described a system in which GPS trackers installed on buses transmit real-time location data to the display devices at bus stops, showing both the position of the bus and its estimated arrival time. Alongside this, a mobile application is being developed to extend the same information directly to users.

"Through the app, commuters will be able to check the nearest bus stop, follow the movement of a specific bus, and see when it is expected to arrive before leaving home, an approach expected to improve journey planning,” he added.

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Such systems are already common in countries like Singapore, while in parts of Europe, printed timetables have over time been replaced by digital platforms that allow real-time updates, Rukera said.

With dedicated bus lanes also being rolled out to ease congestion in Kigali, Rukera said, the broader aim is to improve reliability and make public transport a more predictable and preferable option for commuters.